BALTIMORE
Cop-terror protest marks victim’s birthday
By Sharon
Black-Ceci
Baltimore
Sept. 8 would have been Joseph Wilbon's 47th birthday. But
instead of celebrating a day of joy and laughter, Wil bon's
family was forced to commemorate his life with a march for
justice.
Wilbon was the victim of a police beating. He died as a
result of the attack, according to family members and
activists with the Baltimore All-Peoples Congress.
Protesters from the APC and Unity for Action rallied in
front of Wilbon's auto-body shop. Then they marched through
the neighborhood, taking over the streets and distributing
hundreds of fliers.
According to eyewitness accounts, Wilbon left his shop on
June 5 to attend to a customer's vehicle. As he was trying to
enter the vehicle with a key, police surrounded him, beat
him, and threw him into a van.
Wilbon died several hours later. The state has refused to
release the autopsy report.
His death has sparked many protests.
Renee Washington, Wilbon's fiancée, proclaimed: "We
will not let Joey's case be forgotten. The police and the
mayor think we will go away. But they are wrong. The protests
will continue until justice is won not only for Joey but for
all victims of police abuse."
The group ended its activities at the All-Peoples Congress
Hall with a birthday party to commemorate Wilbon's life. His
children, mother, and other friends and family attended. The
hall was adorned with pictures of Wilbon in the role of
loving father, high school youth and beloved family
member.
Activists pledged to continue the fight. They plan to go
to City Hall and file a lawsuit against police harassment in
the Brentwood community.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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